Firsts

Results of my first overnight trip away (three nights/four days actually):

• Jack and David had a lovely time together. David says when I'm not around he knows he has to step up and do a good job.  Indeed, this morning he noticed that my morning routine with Jack was somewhat more meandering than his more structured one from this week, and he offered to take over the getting Jack ready for school.  I secretly rejoiced.  So not a morning person.
• I was surprised at how fun it was to be on a business trip again.  All the people who went to this event got giant suites at the Venetian in Las Vegas.  I mean my room was 1100 square feet, nearly as big as our old house.  The bathroom alone was the size of our old bedroom had had a separate shower, soaking tub, water closet, vanity table where you could SIT DOWN to put on your makeup (instead of putting it on in the car at the red lights on your way to your first meeting).  The room also had two televisions.  I was the only person in the room. It felt absolutely decadent.  I won't even bring up the amazing food (tiny beef wellington medallion appetizers, for example. I won't mention them. Or the crab cakes. Or the mashed potatoes infused with truffle oil. or the shot glasses of vichyssoise).
• I was both very relieved and a little annoyed that Jack and David didn't miss me more than they did. But perhaps four days/three nights is the limit as Jack cried a lot last night when David put him to bed.  And perhaps I'm imagining it, but when I tucked him back in in the middle of the night, I could swear that Jack smiled at me in his sleep.
• It was an interesting switch to be in a place where I could completely focus on work without being distracted by the responsibilities of being a parent, i.e. taking breaks in the middle of a project so I could do the daycare pick up, hang out for several hours before putting the boy to bed and getting back to work.  It was an amazing period of high productivity that has eluded me lately.  And the best part was that Jack and David were totally good with it and had the chance to bond with each other.

On a separate note, I've been a little stressed about the idea of having a basement home office.  I am one of those people who gets a little freaked out when she can't see the outside world and natural light.  But the prospect of having a large office that I can do anything I want with is very appealing to me.  So David and I have been discussing how to make a basement home office into a welcoming, well-lit space. Many ideas have been floated.  He has been receptive to all of them except the one where I wanted to dig out the foundation of the house and build glass doors into the basement. Foundation shmoundation I say!

And because the title of this post is Firsts, I would be remiss if I did not mention another first. Jack is headed to Nana's house for his first overnight away from home tomorrow night.  David and I are going to take advantage of the opportunity to go out to dinner and a movie.  What a jet-set lifestyle I have lately!

Comments

[Eva]

You could try lots of track lighting and pale yellow walls and cream accents and plants and sleek light-colored wooden Scandinavian furniture...too bad about those damn foundational walls.

I'm glad your son did well without you, but that he needed you back, too.

Once in FL I stayed in an amazing hotel room like that. It was probably 7 years ago and I still think about it...the jacuzzi facing the TV...oooohhh...